Pelargonium Plant Named &#39;Pacrubymex&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct flowering  Pelargonium  plant with big, bi-colored flowers and strong vigor.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Pelargonium peltatum

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Pacrubymex’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPelargonium peltatum known by the varietal name ‘Pacrubymex’. The newvariety was discovered in a planned breeding program in Dresden, Germanyin the summer of 2009. The purpose of the breeding program was todevelop bi-colored, semi-double flowering Ivy pelargoniums (geraniums)with a stable flower pattern. The new variety is the result of acrossing a bulk of different genotypes to obtain big, double flowerswith a red color and good heat resistance. Cuttings from the seedlingwith the best flowering characteristics and best growth habit weregrafted on ‘Pacshim’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,975) to transfer thepattern of bi-colored stripes. When the grafted tips that flowered werealso bi-colored, cuttings were made and clones of the resulting stripednew variety were tested over three years. The most stable clone waschosen and named ‘Pacrubymex.’ The new variety is similar to ‘Pacruby’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,868) in trailing habit, leaf size and color, andall over season flowering. The new variety is less vigorous than‘Pacruby.’ ‘Pacrubymex’ has red-white (43A and 36D) colored petals,while ‘Pacruby’ only exhibits red (45A) colored petals. The new varietywas first asexually reproduced in November of 2009 by cuttings inDresden, Germany. The new variety has been trial and field tested inDresden and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics andremain true to type through successive propagations.

The following characteristics further distinguish the new variety fromother pelargonium varieties known to the breeder:

-   -   Stable, bi-colored flowers;    -   Big, double flowers;    -   Strong vigor;    -   Good trailing habit;    -   All over season flowering; and    -   Good heat stability.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety, withthe color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of thenew cultivar. The data which defines these characteristics werecollected by asexual reproductions and carried out in a greenhouse inDresden, Germany. The new variety was grown in a 19 cm. pot, withtreatment of Cycocel® 720 0.2% four times, and two pinchings. Thereadings and measurements were taken on a 9-month old plant in a roomwithout direct sunlight or artificial light. Color references areprimarily to the 1995 edition of the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London.

-   Plant:    -   -   Time to initiate roots (days, temperature).—About 21 days at            about 18-20° C.        -   Time to develop roots (days, temperature).—About 28 days at            about 18-20° C.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted            cutting.—About 12 weeks in a 12 cm container.        -   Type.—Ivy.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching roots.        -   Form.—Trailing.        -   Height from media surface to top of foliage.—25 cm.        -   Height from media surface to top of flowers.—30 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—50 cm.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous.        -   Strength (need for artificial support).—Long branches need            support in production.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.        -   Stem.—Main stem length: 30-50 cm. Diameter: 5 mm. Color:            Close to 144A. Texture: Slightly rough. Pubescence: Light.            Internode length: 2-3 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: Primary: 20-40 cm. Secondary:            2-25 cm. Diameter: Primary: 4 mm. Secondary: 3 mm. Internode            length: 2-3 cm. Texture: Slightly rough. Pubescence: Light.            Color: 144A.        -   Foliage.—Arrangement: Mainly opposite, sometimes alternate.            Stipules: Size: Length: 11 mm. Width: 7 mm. Color: 147A.        -   Zone.—Location: 2 cm from margin. Color: 200A on young            leaves, but is lost after maturity.        -   Size of leaf.—Length: 3.5 cm. Width: 6 cm.        -   Shape of leaf (generally).—Ivy shaped.        -   Shape of apex.—Cuneate.        -   Shape of base.—Open.        -   Texture.—Leathery.        -   Aspect.—Glossy.        -   Margin type.—Lobed, significantly undulated.        -   Pubescence.—Upper surface: Glabrous. Lower surface:            Glabrous.        -   Color.—Young leaves: Upper surface: Close to 137A. Lower            surface: Close to 137C. Mature leaves: Upper surface: Close            to 137A. Lower surface: Close to 137C.        -   Petiole.—Length: 20 mm. Diameter: 2 mm. Color: 146A.        -   Veins.—Venation type: Palmate. Color: Upper surface: Close            to 144A. Lower surface: Close to 144A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Bud.—Stage of development when bud characteristics            determined: Before color appears. Shape of cluster: Like a            bell. Diameter of cluster: 2.5 cm. Number of buds per            cluster: 6. Shape of individual bud: Spindle-shaped. Length            of individual bud: 13 mm. Width of individual bud: 5 mm.        -   Natural flowering season.—Spring until frost in moderate            climates.        -   Blooming habit—Continuous, with early blooming.        -   Umbel diameter.—9 cm.        -   Umbel depth.—6 cm.        -   Borne.—Umbel, flowers on pedicel, pedicel on peduncle.        -   Inflorescence position.—Above foliage.        -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—About 3 at the            same time.        -   Lastingness of an individual flower.—6-10 days.        -   Florets.—Form: Flat. Number per umbel: 6. Diameter: 55 mm.            Depth: 20 mm.        -   Petals.—Color: Upper surface: Margin and stripes are 43A,            fading to white in between. Lower surface: White with a            margin of 50A, more or less no stripes present. Shape:            Obovate. Length: 30 mm. Width: 18 mm. Apex shape: Round.            Base shape: Attenuate. Margin: Entire and undulated. Number            per floret: 11. Texture: Smooth, glabrous, and velvety.            Tonality from a distance: Bi-colored red/white.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity: 3-8. Shape: Irregular. Color (Upper and            lower surface): Margin and stripes are 43A, fading to white            in between. Length: 5-15 mm. Width: 3-10 mm.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 25 mm. Diameter: 2 mm. Color: 144A.        -   Peduncle.—Length: 9-14 cm. Diameter: 3 mm. Texture: Sticky            and glabrous. Color: 144A.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Disease resistance.—Unknown.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Good heat stability.        -   Drought tolerance.—Medium.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number (per flower): 10-15. Filament: Length: 8 mm.            Color: White. Anthers: Shape: Elongated; short tube. Length:            2 mm. Color: 79A.        -   Pollen.—Color: 169D. Amount: Much.        -   Pistils.—Number: 1. Length: 10 mm.        -   Style.—Length: 3 mm. Color: White.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Actinomorphic, 5-6 parted. Color: 64A. Size:            4 mm.        -   Ovaries.—Texture: Pubescence present. Length: 5 mm. Width:            2 mm. Color: 148D.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Pelargonium plantsubstantially as shown and described.